Man booked on sex trafficking counts BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputies have arrested a 22-year-old fugitive accused of trafficking at least two women and possibly others from out of state to Baton Rouge, allegedly forcing them into prostitution The Advocate reported investigators first learned of Emmanuel Bailey's operation in March when authorities arrested a woman for prostitution at a hotel, only to learn she had been brought to Louisiana by Ba...

Counterfeit suspect identifiedThanks to an overwhelming response from the community, the Russellville Police Department (RPD) identified the counterfeit suspect from a video released Tuesday. Police are not releasing the name at this time, as the investigation is ongoing. The RPD thanks the public for its support and help in this case.

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Russellville Police DepartmentThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Officers warn of break-insDue to a recent spike in vehicle break-ins, authorities offered some tips to avoid becoming a victim. "Lock your car doors and hide your valuables," Drew Latch, Russellville Police Department (RPD) public information officer, said. "Those two things will go a long way in preventing you from becoming a victim." Latch said the term "break-in" is a bit misleading because most often valuables are stolen from cars left unlocked. "They pull on the h...

Counterfeit suspect sought by policeThe Russellville Police Department is looking for a female suspect who has passed several counterfeit bills at stores in the community. They are asking for the community’s help in identifying the individual in the photo/video. If you have any information on the identity or whereabouts’ of this suspect please call 479-968-3232 and ask to speak to Detective Hendrix or call the silent tip line at 479-967-2221.

Bond hearingsThe following individual appeared during felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. His name, age, anticipated charges and bond amount is listed. If charged, he will appear Oct. 6 in Circuit Court. • Bobby Franklin Jr., 31, forgery and theft of property — $50,000 commercial bond plus a $1,500 cash-only bond. On Aug. 23, Franklin and a woman loaded up about $800 worth of items at a local retail store and attempted to pay f...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Oct. 6 in Circuit Court. • Brittney West, 27, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance — $10,000. Through two transactions over the past six months, West sold more than 5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant working wit...

Police release drunk driving reportsLocal law enforcement reported few alcohol-related arrests over the three-day weekend. The Russellville Police Department (RPD) and the Pope County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) each reported arrests that occurred over Labor Day weekend, as both took part in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to stop drunk driving. PCSO Capt. Scott Rentfro said police reported two driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrests, one involving an accident, ...

Driver charged with homicide in log crashCLINTON — Jerry Hickman was charged with homicide in connection with the June accident that killed two construction workers — one from Pope County and one from Crawford County — and injured 19 people. Hickman, 39, of Bee Branch was driving a log truck near the Archey Fork Creek Bridge on U.S. Highway 65 in Clinton around 3:18 p.m. June 2 when one of the tires blew out, causing the truck to overturn, according to a police report. Ricardo Troche...

Bond Hearings (Sept. 3, 2014)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed below. If charged, they will appear Oct. 6 in Circuit Court. • Joey Broomfield, 32, two counts of delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine — $5,000. On two occasions in September 2012, Broomfield sold a combined estimated 6.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential inf...

Woman accused of shoplifting $144 in eye shadow FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — An Arkansas woman whose mug shot shows her in heavy aqua and maroon eye shadow is accused of shoplifting $144 in makeup. Police in Fayetteville arrested 31-year-old Brandy Allen, accusing her of stuffing handfuls of eye shadow into her purse Monday. Officers said that, after being confronted, Allen went on a profanity-laced tirade and tried to damage makeup as she pulled it out of her purse so the items would appear used. T...

Doctor charged with 3 more voyeurism counts PARAGOULD (AP) — A Paragould gynecologist accused of taking photographs of a nude patient faces additional charges after police said three more patients identified pictures of themselves on his cellphone, according to documents filed in a Greene County court. Greene County District Judge Dan Stidham found probable cause to charge Paul Becton with three more counts of felony video voyeurism. Becton has already pleaded not guilty to five counts....

Jonesboro to use grant for police body cameras JONESBORO (AP) — The Jonesboro City Council has approved buying Tasers and body cameras for some of its police officers. The purchase with a $12,000 grant was approved Tuesday night. The funding for the equipment is from the Department of Justice. Mayor Harold Perrin says 10 of the city's approximately 125 officers will wear a camera. He says he ultimately wants to outfit all the officers to increase the safety of police and residents. The gra...

Jail to start new video visitation system PARAGOULD (AP) — An official with an eastern Arkansas county jail says he expects video visitation services for inmates to begin this week. Greene County Jail administrator Dave Tierney tells the Paragould Daily Press inmates and their visitors should be able to talk to each other through video calls starting Wednesday. Tierney says that before, visitors would meet face-to-face in what he called a "chaotic" and "free-for-all" process. He says ...

Tatum: No plea talks yetDANVILLE — Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II said there haven't been any discussions of a plea bargain in the manslaughter trial of Brooke Floyd. Tatum didn't rule out the possibility and told The Courier on Tuesday there have been "none so far." Floyd, 21, is charged with manslaughter in the death of her 10-month-old son Harper. Floyd was charged with manslaughter after Harper — along with her 33-year-old husband, Brian — were found dead on J...

LR police investigating after 2 found dead in home LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Authorities are investigating after two people were found dead at a home in Little Rock. Police say authorities responded to a report of a fire at a duplex on 26th and Spring streets shortly before 4 a.m. Friday. Once there, emergency responders found the front door open and the bodies of a man and a woman inside. Authorities identified the people who died as 29-year-old Charity Hall and 41-year-old David D. Murphy, both of ...

$30,000 in sculptures stolen from Little Rock park LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Little Rock authorities say three sculptures worth $30,000 have been stolen from Riverfront Park. The city's Parks and Recreation director says he believes the statues were taken Thursday night. They're made of bronze with copper detail and were sawed off at their base. Two others were taken from the same garden about a year and a half ago. One was recovered and the other was replaced. The director says there is only one sec...

Second man charged in Magnolia double homicide MAGNOLIA (AP) — Authorities have charged a second suspect in the fatal shooting of a Southern Arkansas University football player and a former student. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office said Timothy Johnson, 23, of Camden was charged Thursday with a terroristic act. The same charge was filed against Byron Dunn, 20, on Monday in the shooting. Police haven't said why they believe the men were involved in the killings. Southern Arkansas wide r...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Oct. 6 in Circuit Court. • Steven Sullivan, 27, theft of property — $10,000. On Aug. 15, Sullivan took a laptop valued at $2,200 from a local hospital, according to a police report. Sullivan allegedly admitted taking the laptop to try to conta...

Special prosecutor appointed in transient slaying VAN BUREN (AP) — A special prosecutor has been appointed in the case of a man convicted of killing a woman at a Crawford County transient camp in 2001. The Times Record reported Fort Smith attorney Ron Fields was appointed during a Wednesday hearing. The Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Rickey Dale Newman earlier this year, saying he was incompetent to stand trial when he was convicted in 2002 of killing Marie Cholette. Defense a...

North Little Rock man arrested on murder charge NORTH LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A 21-year-old North Little Rock man has been arrested in connection with a May homicide. The North Little Rock Police Deparment says Juwon Cooper was arrested without incident at his home Thursday morning. He faces a first-degree murder charge in the killing of 42-year-old Corey Renard Britt. Police say Britt was found in his home and appeared to have been shot. A police spokesman says no further information regarding ...